The junior doctor daughter of former Conservative Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell has called for Jeremy Hunt to be sacked.

In a letter to the Guardian, Andrew Mitchell's daughter, Dr Hannah Mitchell, says the Health Secretary is "either dishonest or stupid" over his claims that reduced staffing leads to more hospital deaths at weekends.

Dr Mitchell wrote: “The health secretary is not even clear on what he means by a seven-day-week NHS.

"He continues to misuse research to support his arguments. He has been told the statistics he uses are not correct, meaning he is either dishonest or stupid, I don’t know which is worse. He demonises the BMA, and lies about their actions."

She added: "The health secretary has alienated an entire generation of junior doctors, we have no confidence in him, he must be sacked."

As Chief Whip, Andrew Mitchell is in charge of discipline in the Tory ranks (Image: Getty)

Dr Mitchell is currently on a research fellowship in Botswana, but says she's likely to seek permanent work in South Africa rather than come back to work in the NHS.

Mr Mitchell told the Guardian: "There is no three-line whipping system in the Mitchell family."

It comes on the same day Labour accused Mr Hunt of 'misleading' MPs over a letter he used to support his decision to force new contracts on doctors.

The Health Secretary used a letter from lead negotiator Sir David Dalton, apparently backed by 20 senior NHS managers, to support his argument for imposing the new deal.

Today it emerged that the panel of NHS Chief Executives were not shown the letter, but only an attached statement which asked them to endorse the final contract offer.

Labour Shadow Health Secretary Heidi Alexander wrote to Mr Hunt: "Yesterday in your statement on the junior doctor contract you said: “Along with other senior NHS leaders… Sir David Dalton has asked me to end the uncertainty for the service by proceeding with the introduction of a new contract.”

"It is now clear that over half of the senior NHS leaders you referred to in your statement do not support your decision to impose a new contract.

"I am concerned that in making this claim you may have inadvertently misled the House.

"You will know that paragraph 1.2c of the Ministerial Code states: “It is of paramount importance that Ministers give accurate and truthful information to Parliament, correcting any inadvertent error at the earliest opportunity. Ministers who knowingly mislead Parliament will be expected to offer their resignation to the Prime Minister.”

"I would be grateful if you would confirm that you will return to the House at the next available opportunity to correct the record."

A spokesperson for the Department of Health today confirmed to the Mirror that Jeremy Hunt was aware that the NHS Chief Executives had only endorsed the final contract offer, and not imposing the contract.